IELTS General Training Writing Practice Test 15

Write your own response before opening this example. This is a sample from the book, not a score or assessment of your writing.

Dear Ms Romano,

I am writing to thank you and your staff for making our family celebration at Casa Verde last Saturday evening so special.

We had booked a table for twelve people to celebrate my grandparents' fiftieth wedding anniversary. It was the first time in several years that the whole family had been together, including cousins who had flown in from Canada, so it was a very important occasion for us.

Your staff went out of their way to help us. When we arrived, we discovered that my grandmother's wheelchair would not fit between the tables, but your waiter, Marco, quickly rearranged the room so that she could sit comfortably at the head of the table. The chef also prepared a special dish for my uncle, who has a serious nut allergy, even though it was not on the menu. At the end of the meal, the staff surprised my grandparents with a small cake and sang to them, which brought tears to their eyes.

I would be very grateful if you could pass on our thanks to everyone. Perhaps you could also mention Marco and the kitchen team in your staff newsletter, or consider them for an employee award.

Thank you once again for an unforgettable evening.

Yours sincerely,

Daniel Okafor

Commentary

• TA: All three bullet points are fully developed: the occasion is described with relevant detail, three specific examples of help are given, and two realistic suggestions are made. The purpose is clear from the first sentence.
• CC: One paragraph for each bullet point, plus a short opening and closing. Ideas within the paragraphs are sequenced clearly ("When we arrived", "also", "At the end of the meal").
• LR: A warm but polite semi-formal tone suits a letter to a manager the writer knows by name. Natural expressions such as "went out of their way", "brought tears to their eyes" and "an unforgettable evening".
• GRA: Accurate past perfect ("had booked", "had flown in"), relative clauses, "so that" for purpose, and a polite conditional request ("I would be very grateful if you could...").

Write your own response before opening this example. This is a sample from the book, not a score or assessment of your writing.

In recent years, "buy now, pay later" services have spread rapidly, and many online shops now offer them at the checkout. There are several reasons for their popularity, but they can also cause serious financial problems, especially for young people.

The main reason for their success is convenience. Customers can spread the cost of a purchase over several weeks with just a few clicks, without filling in long application forms or visiting a bank. Secondly, many of these services charge no interest if payments are made on time, so they appear to be a cheaper and fairer alternative to credit cards. Finally, shops actively promote them, because customers who do not have to pay the full price immediately tend to buy more expensive items.

However, these services can create real difficulties. Because each payment seems small, it is easy for users to lose track of how much they owe in total, particularly if they use several services at the same time. A friend of mine discovered that she was making nine separate payments every month for clothes, a phone and concert tickets, which together came to more than half of her part-time income. In addition, although borrowing is free at first, missed payments often lead to late fees, and in some countries they can damage a person's credit record, making it harder to rent a flat or get a loan in the future. Perhaps most importantly, these services encourage people to buy things they cannot really afford, rather than saving for them.

In conclusion, "buy now, pay later" services have become popular because they are quick, appear to be free and are heavily promoted by retailers. Nevertheless, they can lead users into debt without realising it. For this reason, I believe that customers should be given clearer information about the risks before they sign up.

Commentary

• TR: Both questions are answered fully: three clear reasons for popularity and three developed problems, supported by a relevant personal example. The conclusion adds a brief recommendation without introducing a new main idea.
• CC: Logical paragraphing (introduction, reasons, problems, conclusion), with clear sequencing ("The main reason", "Secondly", "Finally", "In addition", "Perhaps most importantly").
• LR: Accurate financial vocabulary ("spread the cost", "charge no interest", "lose track of", "late fees", "credit record", "lead users into debt").
• GRA: Complex sentences with "because", "although" and "if" clauses, a participle phrase ("making it harder to..."), and accurate use of passive and modal forms.